Sunday, January 23, 2011

It's been a while since big hitting machine Jason White has been featured here on Rugbydump. He's back though after this great tackle he made on Saracens' Chris Wyles on Friday night was much requested.

Scotsman White, now 32, has had a rough time since moving to Clermont in France, with injury derailing his attempts to be a regular first choice player for the club. Last year he broke his leg and was out for a lengthy period, but has since made good progress.

"To miss eight months it is always going to take any player time to get back up to speed and that was the case with myself, but I have now been involved in the last 10 club matches and I am feeling good," White said recently.

"Of course I would like to be starting more matches, but we have a top quality pack and I just have to take my chances to impress when they come along."

While out with injury last year White wasn't completely inactive, as during his recuperation he's been busy off the pitch with fatherhood as he and his wife now have two little girls. He also says that despite a disappointing 2010, he loves life in France.

"Playing matches in France is something else. Every club’s fans are so passionate and almost look to the team to defend the local area’s honour and as a result there are some great atmospheres. It really spurs you on as a player and makes each occasion different."

The former Scotland captain would love to play for his country again, and if all goes well he could end up being at the World Cup later this year, but for now his focus is on Clermont.

"There is serious competition for places at Clermont and nobody can take their place for granted. That’s one of the reasons why I don’t want to get ahead of myself as regards Scotland.

"Of course I would love to play for my country again and there isn’t anybody with more national pride than me, but my initial objective is to get into the Clermont first XV on a regular basis, and that will be a huge challenge in itself," he said.

With hits like this and a typically high workrate, White seems to be on the right path and will no doubt regain his well earned reputation as being one of the hardest men in the game.

Jason White is one of the last of the true old school, "natural" players. He's an enormous physical specimen, but not an "athlete". He strikes me as a bloke who just loves the fight, and rugby is his outlet. Pure Scottish grit, hard as nails, un-fussy and more pride than a savannah of lions.